3 months ago
SUTTER CREEK, CA - Robert Allen is well known around Sutter Creek. His family is one of the largest land owners in Amador County.
"We've ranched here since 1860, cut timber, logged and we have all kinds of cows and horses," Allen said.
Allen is now interested in starting a new business.
"I'd like to open up a dispensary and sell marijuana," he said. He wants to locate a medical marijuana shop in historic Sutter Creek.
A personal experience sparked the idea. Allen's mother was bedridden for ten years following a stroke. "I thought she had four days to live and told all my relatives they needed to come and see her," Allen said.
Then Allen managed to get a doctor to write a recommendation for marijuana for his mother. "She hadn't been eating or drinking or taking any medicine by mouth," Allen explained. But after the marijuana, "she came back. She lived another two and a half years, celebrated her 60th wedding anniversary and her 86th birthday. She was a joy to be around."
But a ban against growing and selling marijuana in Amador County may stand in Allen's way. Last week, he related his idea for a marijuana store to county supervisors.
"There are some things I would be concerned about if this were to go in place," said Supervisor Theodore Novelli.
He pointed out that California's state law which allows dispensaries is in conflict with federal law which doesn't.
"If this happens in our county, can the federal government and other jurisdictions come in and apprehend people for (buying and selling marijuana)?" Allen said.
Allen pointed out that he would want some of the proceeds to go to Sutter Creek. He also believes it would provide jobs. "If I started to sell marijuana to people with a proper doctor's recommendation, then I would turn around and hire people to grow it or buy it from growers. It would just snowball," Allen said.
County supervisors have asked their staff to research the idea and report back to them.
"I'm going to keep talking to people and see if I can get somebody to rent a space to me in Sutter Creek. Or I may get some petitions to get the county to do something about it instead of just letting it die in a committee," Allen said.
By Karen Massie, kmassie@news10.net
News10/KXTV
